My First Collegiate Start

Marian Baseball

My First Collegiate Start

By Trent Keitel

I played four years of varsity baseball at Marian University in Wisconsin. We were on our Spring Trip my senior season in Tucson, AZ. Coach Bartelt came into our hotel room for bed checks and right before he left the room he said “Keitel your starting in left tomorrow.” I was in shock, 3 years of hard work and determination had paid off, knowing I earned the start. We had a very talented team and for coach to give me a start meant the world.

Surprisingly I slept fairly well that night. I woke up, had breakfast and left for the ballpark with my teammates. 

As we arrived at the ballpark and coach posted the line-up card I still could not believe my name was up there.

To put my emotions in perspective, this was like a young boy’s dream of playing in the major leagues being realized. I knew my baseball talent would not excel to the Major League level, so this was my “Big League” start.

 

I admit I was nervous, and once I realized we were playing a Division II team in Lubbock Christian University, my heart started to pound a little faster, none the less the pitcher we were facing was a 6’5’’ 220 lb. righty who touched 90 MPH on his fastball.

As the game began I was out in left field telling myself to stay calm and trust my baseball skills. The first ball hit in my direction was a towering fly ball, for lack of better terms I said “oh shoot” as I raced back to retrieve it. I watched the ball hit off the middle of the wall and I picked it up and hit the cut-off man. This play got some of the first game jitters out of me. 

The next inning I was up to bat, saw one pitch and with that pitch I attempted to bunt but it was more or less a ground ball as I smoked it towards the first basemen. He made the easy play and the inning ended. 

Back in the field, an LCU player ripped a line drive right towards me, I had a good read on it but it was a sinking liner. I laid out and made the play, it was exciting to sprint back to our dugout and receive multiple high-fives from my coaches and teammates. 

The following inning I came up to bat for the second time and again saw one pitch, but made the most of it and got my first collegiate hit on a looping line drive to center field.

As the game went on LCU proved to be the better team on that day and ultimately we lost the game, but it was an experience I will never forget. 

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

Just remeber--those looping singles are all line drives in the box score, son.